Universal joint



Julie 16, 1942. MIL JR 2,286,498

UNIVERSAL JOINT v Fi led Sept. 21, 1959v 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR- FRED EMILLER JR.

AT ORNEYS June 16,1942.

F. F. MILLER, JR

UNIVERSAL JOINT 1 Filed Sept. 21, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6.

' INVENTOR.

' FRED FMiLl-ER JR.

ATTORNEXS 4 tially on line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure isa cross section showing a modified construction of ball retainer;

- "the distance Patented June 16, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1, Q Y v 2,286,498

cmvansan JOINT In, Ferndale, Micln, Gear Grinding Machine Company, Hamtramck, lliicln, a corporation of Michigan September '21, 1939, Serial No. 295,967 Claims- (0 1.64-21) at. Miller,

Application The invention relates. to torque transmitting universal joints of that type commonly known as constant velocity,

accurately described but which might be more as constant ratio. It is the primary object of the pliiied construction which at relatively low cost. It 'is .a further object to obtain a constructionhavin'g a high-degree of strength and capable of transmitting relatively v 1 heavy loads.

, With these objects inlvi'ew. the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth. r

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is-a cross section through my improved universal joint;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section substantially on line 2-2 ofFlgure 1;

Figure-3 isa view similar to Figure" 1, showing J the position of the balls when the axes 'of the two members are in alignment;-

Figure 4 is a developed sectional view substan- Figure sis a longitudinal section construction of joint. In the present state'of the art various constructions of universal joints have been devised in which'torque is transmitted between the drive and driven members through the medium of balls.

Many of these constructions-are not of the constant ratio'or' constant velocity type,'but where this is desired it is essential that the plane of the balls should always bisect the angle between the v 36 To retain the members drive and driven'shafta- The instant invention involves in its construction a novel geometrical principle through which a floating system of torque transmitting balls is always maintained in a plane, bisecting the angle between the shaft axes. Y

and of a radial length considerably greater than ar'ranged between and in contact with the surfaces 0 and D and forming a circular series contacting with a central circular spacer member F. The latter is grooved initsperiphery as indicated at G to maintain theballs ina. common plane. H are lugs projecting axially from the members A and B and interspersed between the balls. As specifically shown, each of the members A and B is provided with a pair of these invention'to obtain a simcan be. manufactured of a modified illustrated, A and B are the twovmain members which are provided with opposed concave 1 s surfaces C and D, preferably segments of spheres centered in the axes of the respective members s H'which form the radial channel are. tangent to between said surfaces. E are balls assignor to lugs which are diametrically opposite and so fashioned as to form in cooperation with the ever, during such angular movement the approach of the concave surfaces C and D on one side of the axis will force the ball E on this side radially jangular relation, the balls will gyrate successive- 1y. moving radially inward on one side and fadially outward on the opposite side. Also, the fact that the balls arealways in' contact with the concave surfaces will insure the holding of the angle between the axes.

A and B in assembled relation andv also to hold the lubricant-an outer jacket K is provided. 'Ijhls, as shown, is of seg mental spherical form concentric with the point 1 and engaging an outer spherical surface. L' 40 on the member B. The member K has an internally threaded portion M for engaging a correspondingly threaded flange .N on the member A, thereby completing the enclosure. As shown in Figure l, the surfaces of the lugs the balls therebetween at diametrically opposite points. Ihus, intransmltting torque the line of. thrust is perpendicular to these surfaces, so that there will benoireaction tending to displace the members A and B with respect to each other. If desired, however, the lugs H may be so fashioned as to partly envelopthe balls beyond the central plane thereof. Such construction is .shown in Figure 4;, where'the lug H has the outwardly extending portion H curved to fit around the ball,

' lugs of the opposite member radially extending -inward andthrough the medium of the spacer I F will force the diametrically opposite ball E common plane of the series, so as to bisect the This construction will extend the line of contact through which thrust is transmitted from the lugs to the balls. Assembly of the balls with the lugs is permitted when the members A and B are held in angular relation to each other and separated axially.

As above described, the jacket K and spherical surface L coact to hold the members A and B from separation. There is, however, a slight unavoidable axial movement of these members accompanying the angular movement thereof, so that sufllcient clearance must be provided to compensate for this. In the construction shown in Figure 5, I have provided an automatic compensating means which also serves to take up any lost motion occasioned by wear of the parts. In

against the members F and F will separate.

these members, placing the spring washer F under tension. When, however, there is any relative axial movement of the members A and B due to angularity which wouldpermit the surfaces 0 and D to slightly separate, then the washer F will press the sections F and F toward each other, thereby forcing the balls radially outward. In brief, the spaceroperates as a resiliently expansible member which will always hold the balls in contact with the spherical surfaces in every position of adjustment.

As thus far described, the spherical surfaces formed by the members A and B are concave, but the functioning of the joint will be substantially the same with opposed convex spherical surfaces. This is illustrated in Figure 6 in which A and B are the two members of the joint respectively provided with convex spherical surfaces C' and D. The balls E are placed between these surfaces and are held in contact therewith by an annular retainer 0 surrounding the series. The two members A and B are held together by a jacket member K engaging a spherical surface L similar to the construction shown in Figure 2. Torque transmitting lugs H projecting from the members A, B are interspersed withv the balls. 'Thus, in operation relative angular movement of the axes of the members A, B is permitted, theballs O gyrating in a similar manner as described in connection with Figure 2. What I claim'as my invention is: 1. A universal joint comprising a pair of members having opposed spherical surfaces centered in the axes of the respective members and spaced from each other by a dimension less than the radius of the sphere, a floating system of balls between said surfaces, and torque transmitting means projecting axially from said members and interspersed with said balls.

2. A universal joint comprising a pair of members having opposed spherical surfaces centered in the axes of the respective members and spaced from each 'other by a dimension less than the radius of the sphere, a floating system of balls between said surfaces about whichsaid members are free to oscillate, and torque transmitting means projecting from said members interspersed with said balls and together with said spherical surfaces compelling movement of the balls into a plane bisecting the the members.

3. A universal joint comprising a pair of memangle between the axes of b'ers having opposed spherical surfaces centered in the axes of th respective members and spaced from each other by a dimension less than the radius of the sphere, a floating system of balls between said surfaces, said system including a retainer for holding said balls in a common plane and substantially equlspaced from a common center in said plane, and lugs projecting axially from said members interspersed with said balls to' form therewith torque transmitting means, said lugs being fashioned to form radially extending channels through which said balls are free to gyrate.

4. A universal joint comprising a pair of members having opposed spherical surfaces centered radius of the sphere, a floating system of balls between said surfaces, said system including a retainer for holdingsaid balls in a common plane and substantially equispaced from a common center in .said plane, and lugs projecting axially from said members interspersed with said balls to form therewith torque transmitting means, said lugs being fashioned to form radially extending channels through which said balls are free to gyrate, being also fashioned to partially envelop said balls on opposite sides of their common plane.-

5. A universal joint comprising a pair of members having .opposed spherical members centered in the axes of the respective members and spaced 'fromeach other by a dimension less than the radius of the sphere, a floating system of balls between said spherical surfaces, said system including four balls spacedfrom each other and a central peripherally grooved spacer member for maintaining said balls in a common plane, diametrically opposed lugs projecting axially from each member and interspersed with said balls, said lugs having faces for contacting with said balls which are at right angles to each other in the plane of the balls, and the lugs of the two members forming therebetween radially extending channels permitting gyratory movement of the balls therein. a n

6. A universal Joint comprising a pair of members having oppositely extending interspersed lugs fashioned to .form therebetween channels extending radially inward in axial planes and having in said planes limiting surfaces which are of opposite arcuate form in the respective members and are spaced from each other by a dimension less than the radius of the arc, balls in said channels, and a retainer for holding said balls in a common plane and substantially equispaced from the common center.

7. A universal joint comprising a pair of mem, bers having opposed spherical surfacescentered in the axes of the respective members and spaced from each ther by a dimension less than the radius of the sphere, a floating system of balls between said surfaces, said system including a central spacer member for retaining said balls in a common plane, lugs projecting axially from said members interspersed with said balls to form therewith torque transmitting means, and resilient" means for circumferentially expanding said spacer to maintain said balls in constant contact with said spherical surfaces. a

8. A universal joint comprising a pair of memaaaaaea 3 hers having opposed spherical concave surfaces centered in the axes of the respective members and spaced from each other by a dimension less than the radius of the sphere, a floating system of balls between said surfaces, and torque transmitting means projecting axially from said members and interspersed with said balls.

9. A universal joint comprising a pair of members having opposed convex spherical surfaces centered in the axes of the respective members and spaced from each other by less than the radius of the sphere, a floating system of balls between said surfaces, and torque transmitting means projecting axially from said members and interspersed with said balls.

10. Auniversal joint comprising a pair or rotary members having oppositely axially extending interspersed lugs fashioned to form therebetween channels extending radially inward in axial planes and in all portions thereof at an angle greater than 45 to the axes of rotation of 'the respective members, balls in said channels,

and a retainer for holding said balls lnxspaced relation to each other.

- FRED F; JR. 

